Fortescue continues U.S. enlargement with new clear vitality manufacturing plant – pv journal USA

November 20, 2023 David Carroll

From pv journal Australia

Fortescue has introduced it is going to make investments nearly AUD 54 million ($35 million) to kickstart a serious manufacturing facility in the US that’s anticipated to function a hub for the manufacturing of automotive and heavy business batteries, hydrogen turbines, electrical car quick chargers and electrolyzers.

Fortescue mentioned the manufacturing facility is being developed within the state of Michigan as a part of the corporate’s plan to quickly develop its US presence as a direct results of the IRA.

The IRA, which is geared toward ramping up onshore manufacturing of renewable vitality, electrification and the event of unpolluted vitality industries equivalent to inexperienced hydrogen, provides subsidies, grants and tax breaks to companies to ascertain clear vitality initiatives in the US.

Fortescue’s new manufacturing heart is predicted to profit straight from IRA tax credit for battery modules, providing roughly $10 USD per kWh.

Fortescue Government Chairman and founder Andrew Forrest mentioned the IRA has modified the US from a laggard to a world chief in clear vitality, demonstrating that international locations which incentivize inexperienced vitality place an “financial engine” firmly inside their economies.

“The IRA makes the US essentially the most engaging place on the planet for inexperienced vitality and inexperienced manufacturing initiatives,” he mentioned.

“Fortescue is placing the US on the forefront of our world technique, with the incentives on provide, a win for each the US and the broader Asia-Pacific area.”

The corporate mentioned the Michigan facility, projected to make use of as much as 600 folks in its preliminary part, will function a serious hub for Fortescue’s manufacturing of batteries, quick chargers, and hydrogen turbines and electrolyzers.

“Michigan and the US are extraordinarily engaging locations to fabricate, given the expert workforce, present provide chain and incentives from state and federal governments, together with the Inflation Discount Act,” Fortescue Power Chief Government Officer Mark Hutchinson mentioned.

The brand new manufacturing facility is one in all three clear vitality initiatives Fortescue has deliberate within the US.

Fortescue is concentrating on a last funding resolution this yr for the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub, an electrolyzer and liquefaction facility in Arizona. Stage one of many venture is deliberate to incorporate an 80 MW electrolyzer and liquefaction facility able to producing as much as 12,000 tons of liquified inexperienced hydrogen yearly.

Fortescue can be planning to assemble a large-scale inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing plant close to within the state of Washington. The Centralia venture has been chosen as a part of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub to obtain funding from the US Division of Power. The venture is at the moment within the design stage with a last funding resolution but to be taken by the Fortescue board.